After another outstanding regular CFL season, BC Lions kicker Sean Whyte is the Western nominee for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
In a season that saw Whyte break the Lions' franchise record for most consecutive successful field goals, previously held by Paul McCallum 香蕉视频直播� and tie Lui Passaglia's franchise single-game record (seven field goals vs/ Saskatchewan) 香蕉视频直播� the 39-year-old finished the regular season with a CFL-best 94.3 field goal percentage (50/53). His streak of consecutive field goals ended at 47 in a row, in an Aug. 24 game where his kick was partially blocked by an Ottawa player.
Whyte, a Semiahmoo grad who was born and raised in White Rock and South Surrey, moved away to play for the CFL in Montreal and Edmonton before returning to his home province in 2022, signing a two-year contract extension with the Lions that December. He enjoyed the best season of his career in 2023, connecting on 50 of 53 field goal attempts 香蕉视频直播� a rate of 94.3 per cent 香蕉视频直播� which, he noted, is exactly the same as this season.
"I tied my stats from last year, which is crazy! They're identical," he said with a laugh as he drove home from practice Tuesday. "My goal coming into this season (was that) I wanted to have a perfect season, not missing any," he admitted.
In addition to the award nomination, Whyte also joined teammate Justin McInnis, who became the first Canadian to lead the league in receiving yards since Andy Fantuz in 2010, in being named to the West Division All-CFL team.
Whyte credited his family for helping him enjoy such a long career.
"I do appreciate my family and my support system that I香蕉视频直播檝e had for the last 15-16 years of my career, because if it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 for my Mom and Dad, there香蕉视频直播檚 not a chance I could香蕉视频直播檝e played as long as I have," Whyte said.
"As an athlete, there香蕉视频直播檚 always ups and downs mentally. ... You香蕉视频直播檙e going to lose your job at one point, ... and my Mom and Dad have always been there, every step of the way. This is just another step of my career that I can share with them 香蕉视频直播� hopefully I can win, because that would be the ultimate 香蕉视频直播� just to use that platform to thank my Mom and Dad would be really, really special."
Winning the Grey Cup, of course, is the uppermost goal, and the BC Lions have their work cut out for them after the second half of their season did not go as well as the first half.
His team will have to win two straight road games in order to host the Grey Cup, beginning this Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3:30 p.m. PT in Saskatchewan. The winner of that game will head to Winnipeg for the Western Final on Nov. 9. Coming off a 27-3 win over the Montreal Alouettes, White remains positive about the Lions' chances.
"I香蕉视频直播檝e had a good season 香蕉视频直播� now I香蕉视频直播檝e just got to keep it going for these next two games and hopefully, we get to the Grey Cup. We picked the hardest road possible, ... but it香蕉视频直播檒l be a hell of a story if we do it."
As a 39-year-old pro football player, Whyte isn't quite ready to think about retiring just yet, although it was something he considered two years ago, when he got certified and worked as an on-call firefighter in White Rock. But he stepped away from that at the beginning of 2023 to focus on football.
He remembered seeing former BC Lions coach Wally Buono at the beginning of last year.
"He goes, 'Do you want my opinion (on retiring) or not?' I said, 'Of course I want your opinion,'" Whyte said. "He said, 'You play football for as long as you possibly can.'"
So he's going to take Buono's advice.
"My body feels good, my mind feels good, and I feel the fire to compete," he said, noting now that he's back in B.C. (and having just purchased a home with his wife in Clayton), he's much closer to his former trainer, Chris Boyko, whom he plans to train with again, harder than ever.
"I've just got to get my strength up, and I think that香蕉视频直播檒l prolong my career. I've got my trainer back for the off season, I香蕉视频直播檝e got a plan, so I don香蕉视频直播檛 see any retirement any time soon. I would love to continue to play football for as long as I can. ... If B.C. doesn香蕉视频直播檛 want me next year, I will try to go play somewhere. I香蕉视频直播檓 not ready to be done. I still love football, I still love to compete, and I still think I can do this at a high level," he said, noting he'd love to bring the cup back to White Rock and South Surrey to celebrate.
"I still think I can have a perfect season."
The CFL Awards Show takes place on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Vancouver Convention Centre West.
